Vegans! You Think You're So Clever.

When you ask vegetarians and vegans what they miss most from their sinful, bad-person days of meat eating, the typical response is "bacon." For me, it was Chex Mix. While arguably not as tasty and definitely not as versatile as bacon, apparently some vegans can't resist oysters. And they've found a way to rationalize their murderous, half-shell rampages. Self-described vegan Christopher Cox sees no reason he can't enjoy a "boatload" of oysters while still imposing his self righteous beliefs on others. Via Slate:

Last summer, I visited a friend in San Francisco whom I hadn't seen in a while. Normally in such cases, I must gently remind my host that I eat neither meat, nor dairy, nor eggs, but my friend beat me to it: "I recall that you are a vegan," he wrote, "though one that appreciates fine oysters." Finally, someone who understands me.

Isn't that what we're all looking for? Someone who understands us. Cox argues that since oysters are without a central nervous system, feeling no pain when you eat them alive, no vegan ethical code is breached by consuming the delicious bivalves. Well, there is that part about not eating animals.

Commercial farming of oysters should also give you a warm and fuzzy feeling:

No forests are cleared for oysters, no fertilizer is needed, and no grain goes to waste to feed them—they have a diet of plankton, which is about as close to the bottom of the food chain as you can get. Oyster cultivation also avoids many of the negative side effects of plant agriculture: There are no bees needed to pollinate oysters, no pesticides required to kill off other insects, and for the most part, oyster farms operate without the collateral damage of accidentally killing other animals during harvesting

Rational approaches to ethical eating are commendable, but this just seems like a sneaky loophole to me. For most, being a vegan is more about a lifestyle choice than simple dietary restrictions. For me, oysters exist as a conduit for butter. Much like popcorn. And boys.